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#Regained confidence and positivity about life #Improved relationship with my father, English skills #A precious time to focus only on myself
I started playing the piano when I was young, and I majored in piano in college. Even after graduating I taught children, but I began to feel doubts about my life that had followed only one path. ''Is this really the right path?'' Since I had never experienced any field other than piano, thoughts about what I was truly good at and what I liked continued endlessly.
- Study English without stress and enjoy it!/ Kim Chae-hyun Gap Year Tribe gapper / 8-week gap year |
Is this really the right path?
I began playing the piano as a child, and I majored in piano in college. Even after graduating I taught children, but I began to have doubts about my life that had gone only one way.''Is this really the right path?'' Since I had not experienced any field other than piano, thoughts about what I was truly good at and what I liked continued without end.
One day, filled with such complicated thoughts and questions without answers so that I could neither move forward nor step back, I happened to learn about gap year on the internet. I first encountered gap year through a blog and, out of curiosity, visited the gap year website. There were clearly many projects at a glance, but I wasn''t sure which ones suited me or would help me, and wanting to know more about my current state, I applied for a one-on-one consultation.
For the first time, what I had in my heart
During the consultation I honestly told them all the concerns I had. As I opened up about the problems inside me, I realized that I had never in my life told anyone that I was having a hard time or asked for advice. So this consultation was an opportunity to bring the problems inside me out into the open andrealize that I was in this state.It was an opportunity to recognize that.
The most memorable part of the consultation process was the time I reconciled with my father. I had many conflicts with my father since childhood. So as I grew up I increasingly avoided him, and by now we hardly spoke. But during the consultation I was given a few tasks to help me get closer to my father.
At first I was baffled. I wondered how I was supposed to do that when I didn''t even talk to him and secretly felt resentful—getting closer was out of the question. But the next consultation date approached, and thinking I couldn''t live like this forever, I closed my eyes and took the first step toward my father. With each courageous step, my relationship with him improved, and I felt it became much easier to be around him than before.
Andthe gap year aheadI decided to go on language training for it. I didn''t make concrete plans for after the language study, but the gap year''s goals were twofold. I wanted to live with friends from language schools around the world and experience different cultures, and I wanted to have such a wonderful time that I wouldn''t regret it when I returned to Korea.
On the plane to the Philippines I had countless worries. If it had just been a trip I would have gone without much thought, but worries about having to achieve something first filled my mind and made it complicated.
English and the start of the gap year
But as soon as I arrived, the worries were completely forgotten. The language school made a neat first impression, and the class system and organization were good. Classes were divided into large-group and small-group sessions, which I especially liked. By splitting into groups we did role-plays, debates, and various activities, which allowed us to use English. Especially because the groups included friends from many countries, my perspectives broadened, and I could use the opportunity to learn from them.
A typical day looked like this.
From 6:00 to 8:00is morning time. During this time we finish breakfast and take a vocabulary test.
From 8:00 to 11:30is small-group class time consisting of four students.
Debates, presentations, grammar classes, and writing classes take place,and among these I remember the presentations being difficult. Each level had different topics, and after picking one topic you have to speak according to the required format.
From 11:30there is an hour-long lunch break.
After lunch,until 5:00The large-group class and the one-on-one class each run for three hours.
The large group consists of about 6 to 8 people and follows various curricula, such as writing scripts and presenting them like a play, or holding debates. EspeciallyThe one-on-one lessons were really helpful. During this time, you can have free conversation with the teacher or get additional explanations about things you didn''t understand in class.
After the day''s schedule was overI would prepare for the next day''s classes, memorize vocabulary, and fall asleep.
The hardest part wasThe first week was about adapting to the set schedule and memorizing vocabulary. But once I adapted and my English improved noticeably, I had a lot of fun. So apart from the adjustment period in the first week, I don''t remember anything being difficult.
Fun, motivation
Instead, my memories are full of fun.After getting through the tough classes from Monday to Friday, the sense of achievement I felt on the weekend was huge. Also, I—who couldn''t speak English at all—felt that I could do it while chatting with foreign friends. Above all, the most enjoyable part was the one-on-one time.
The teachers who were in charge of me were bright and lively, the complete opposite of my personality, and after spending a month with them my personality gradually became brighter too.And being able to feel my skills improving right away became a great source of enjoyment and motivation.I became very close with my teacher, so outside of class we went into town to eat, I was invited to their home, and I could always get help whenever something was difficult.
I changed a lot before and after my gap year.
First of all,ConfidenceIt increased a lot. Rather than simply gaining confidence in English, I feel I gained confidence in life. I will continue to consider what I should do in the future, but instead of worrying and only pondering like before, I will think about ways to take action and move forward one step at a time.
AndRange of emotionsIt deepened. In the past I had little reaction even when I saw something beautiful. For example, even if a friend gave me a gift I would say thank you but feel little emotion, and if an acquaintance got married I would be indifferent. But now I genuinely feel gratitude and am moved. So lately people around me often tell me that I''ve become brighter and that I smile more. The time of my gap year, filled with various experiences, has changed me considerably.
Plans for the future
My gap year is not over yet. Or rather, since it''s starting now, I will look into other gap year projects. I also want to try working in other fields. I haven''t decided on a specific field I want to pursue yet, but I plan to broaden my career options by experiencing various fields in addition to the piano I''ve been doing.
What a gap year means to me
It''s really simple.Simply, a time when I can think only about myself. So it''s a time that doesn''t require me to spend energy taking care of others and helps me to change. This is my gap year.Because two months ago, I really didn''t know I would change into who I am now.
The gap year I spent is
an experience ★★★★★
An experience of meeting people from various nationalities and learning about their thoughts and cultures.
Learning ★★★★★
It wasn''t just attending English classes; living in an unfamiliar place meant I learned things I wouldn''t have known if I hadn''t gone.
Environment ★★★★☆
I heard many stories, like there being lots of bugs compared to Korea, but the environment was fine. There were no bugs in the accommodation I stayed in.
Safety ★★★☆☆
It''s safe during the day. It''s advisable to avoid going out alone at night, but going out with friends isn''t particularly dangerous.
Leisure ★★★★☆
I''m busy studying on weekdays. But on weekends I go shopping in town, eat delicious food, or sometimes take a trip to a nearby island.
I started playing the piano when I was young, and I majored in piano in college. Even after graduating I taught children, but I began to feel doubts about my life that had followed only one path. ''Is this really the right path?'' Since I had never experienced any field other than piano, thoughts about what I was truly good at and what I liked continued endlessly.
- Study English without stress and enjoy it!/ Kim Chae-hyun Gap Year Tribe gapper / 8-week gap year |
Is this really the right path?
I began playing the piano as a child, and I majored in piano in college. Even after graduating I taught children, but I began to have doubts about my life that had gone only one way.''Is this really the right path?'' Since I had not experienced any field other than piano, thoughts about what I was truly good at and what I liked continued without end.
One day, filled with such complicated thoughts and questions without answers so that I could neither move forward nor step back, I happened to learn about gap year on the internet. I first encountered gap year through a blog and, out of curiosity, visited the gap year website. There were clearly many projects at a glance, but I wasn''t sure which ones suited me or would help me, and wanting to know more about my current state, I applied for a one-on-one consultation.
For the first time, what I had in my heart
During the consultation I honestly told them all the concerns I had. As I opened up about the problems inside me, I realized that I had never in my life told anyone that I was having a hard time or asked for advice. So this consultation was an opportunity to bring the problems inside me out into the open andrealize that I was in this state.It was an opportunity to recognize that.
The most memorable part of the consultation process was the time I reconciled with my father. I had many conflicts with my father since childhood. So as I grew up I increasingly avoided him, and by now we hardly spoke. But during the consultation I was given a few tasks to help me get closer to my father.
At first I was baffled. I wondered how I was supposed to do that when I didn''t even talk to him and secretly felt resentful—getting closer was out of the question. But the next consultation date approached, and thinking I couldn''t live like this forever, I closed my eyes and took the first step toward my father. With each courageous step, my relationship with him improved, and I felt it became much easier to be around him than before.
Andthe gap year aheadI decided to go on language training for it. I didn''t make concrete plans for after the language study, but the gap year''s goals were twofold. I wanted to live with friends from language schools around the world and experience different cultures, and I wanted to have such a wonderful time that I wouldn''t regret it when I returned to Korea.
On the plane to the Philippines I had countless worries. If it had just been a trip I would have gone without much thought, but worries about having to achieve something first filled my mind and made it complicated.
English and the start of the gap year
But as soon as I arrived, the worries were completely forgotten. The language school made a neat first impression, and the class system and organization were good. Classes were divided into large-group and small-group sessions, which I especially liked. By splitting into groups we did role-plays, debates, and various activities, which allowed us to use English. Especially because the groups included friends from many countries, my perspectives broadened, and I could use the opportunity to learn from them.
A typical day looked like this.
From 6:00 to 8:00is morning time. During this time we finish breakfast and take a vocabulary test.
From 8:00 to 11:30is small-group class time consisting of four students.
Debates, presentations, grammar classes, and writing classes take place,and among these I remember the presentations being difficult. Each level had different topics, and after picking one topic you have to speak according to the required format.
From 11:30there is an hour-long lunch break.
After lunch,until 5:00The large-group class and the one-on-one class each run for three hours.
The large group consists of about 6 to 8 people and follows various curricula, such as writing scripts and presenting them like a play, or holding debates. EspeciallyThe one-on-one lessons were really helpful. During this time, you can have free conversation with the teacher or get additional explanations about things you didn''t understand in class.
After the day''s schedule was overI would prepare for the next day''s classes, memorize vocabulary, and fall asleep.
The hardest part wasThe first week was about adapting to the set schedule and memorizing vocabulary. But once I adapted and my English improved noticeably, I had a lot of fun. So apart from the adjustment period in the first week, I don''t remember anything being difficult.
Fun, motivation
Instead, my memories are full of fun.After getting through the tough classes from Monday to Friday, the sense of achievement I felt on the weekend was huge. Also, I—who couldn''t speak English at all—felt that I could do it while chatting with foreign friends. Above all, the most enjoyable part was the one-on-one time.
The teachers who were in charge of me were bright and lively, the complete opposite of my personality, and after spending a month with them my personality gradually became brighter too.And being able to feel my skills improving right away became a great source of enjoyment and motivation.I became very close with my teacher, so outside of class we went into town to eat, I was invited to their home, and I could always get help whenever something was difficult.
I changed a lot before and after my gap year.
First of all,ConfidenceIt increased a lot. Rather than simply gaining confidence in English, I feel I gained confidence in life. I will continue to consider what I should do in the future, but instead of worrying and only pondering like before, I will think about ways to take action and move forward one step at a time.
AndRange of emotionsIt deepened. In the past I had little reaction even when I saw something beautiful. For example, even if a friend gave me a gift I would say thank you but feel little emotion, and if an acquaintance got married I would be indifferent. But now I genuinely feel gratitude and am moved. So lately people around me often tell me that I''ve become brighter and that I smile more. The time of my gap year, filled with various experiences, has changed me considerably.
Plans for the future
My gap year is not over yet. Or rather, since it''s starting now, I will look into other gap year projects. I also want to try working in other fields. I haven''t decided on a specific field I want to pursue yet, but I plan to broaden my career options by experiencing various fields in addition to the piano I''ve been doing.
What a gap year means to me
It''s really simple.Simply, a time when I can think only about myself. So it''s a time that doesn''t require me to spend energy taking care of others and helps me to change. This is my gap year.Because two months ago, I really didn''t know I would change into who I am now.
The gap year I spent is
an experience ★★★★★
An experience of meeting people from various nationalities and learning about their thoughts and cultures.
Learning ★★★★★
It wasn''t just attending English classes; living in an unfamiliar place meant I learned things I wouldn''t have known if I hadn''t gone.
Environment ★★★★☆
I heard many stories, like there being lots of bugs compared to Korea, but the environment was fine. There were no bugs in the accommodation I stayed in.
Safety ★★★☆☆
It''s safe during the day. It''s advisable to avoid going out alone at night, but going out with friends isn''t particularly dangerous.
Leisure ★★★★☆
I''m busy studying on weekdays. But on weekends I go shopping in town, eat delicious food, or sometimes take a trip to a nearby island.
What makes this project special
